Relationships in A Separate Peace
...ess his "friend" getting reprimanded. Later, Gene says that there's nothing wrong with hating your friends. This is a clear sign that he is building up to doing something cruel to Finny. Gene does not truly care about Finny or his well-being. Additionally, he automatically assumes that Finny is trying to sabatoge his grades because he starts the SSSS and requires daily meetings. Gene thinks that Finny wants him to fail classes so he's angry at him. He doesn't bother to talk to him. This shows that Gene is still immature and untrusting. This is not characteristic of a friendship. Finny, on the other hand, is such a nice person that he does not even realize what is going on around him. He is too good to be true. Even when Gene jounces the tree limb causing Finny to fall and break his leg, Finny lies and defends his actions. Finny believes in his friendship with Gene, so he cannot accept the fact that Gene would do anything to hurt him. Furthermore, when Gene tries to tell him the truth, Finny blocks it out saying get out of here. Gene then realizes that Finny cannot handle the truth, that it will break him. The other boys can see what Gene is hiding: that he is a cruel young boy. They plan the trial to ...